The gray whales have started their northern migration, and the Orcas are hanging out in Monterey Bay to hunt gray whale calves. Thus far, they've killed one every other day.
Nancy Black, a marine biologist with Monterey Bay Whale Watch who has been studying these whales for decades, called the frequency of the pod's killings "remarkable" and "unprecedented."
Hardly; Nancy herself caused the same sort of behavior just a few years ago.
SAN JOSE — Seven years and a tens of thousands of dollars later, marine biologist Nancy Black’s “nightmare” over feeding whales in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is over.
Suggesting Black “lost the path of pure science” in pursuit of glory among her research peers, U.S. District Judge Edward Davila fined Black $12,500 and placed her on three years probation for what a federal prosecutor said was “essentially chumming” for orcas feeding on gray whales in the sanctuary in 2004 and 2005. She must also complete 300 hours of community service.
She's co-owner of Monterey Bay Whale Watch, so she's not exactly a "marine biologist with" the organization. I really dislike people who pass themselves off as "experts" or "biologists" whenever there's a media opportunity. Federal prosecutors wanted at least double the fine imposed, but perhaps the fact that she cried in court influenced the judge.
Yeah, she's a real scientist. And I'm Winnie the Pooh.
